Berthoud first in Colorado to ban sale of puppy mill dogs

Berthoud does not have any pet stores in town, but on Tuesday, it became the only municipality in the state to ban the sale of puppy mill dogs from such stores. Town board members and animal rescue advocates said they hope this small town will send a big message across the state and the country.
Pamela Johnson, Loveland Reporter-HeraldResidents from around Northern Colorado celebrated Tuesday, June 26, 2019, after the Berthoud Town Board unanimously approved an ordinance banning the sale of dogs from puppy mills or other inhumane breeding facilities. Pictured are, from left, Kim McNally of Berthoud with Miss Pickles, Patty Malfetti of Longmont and Lauren Kujawa of Loveland, with Elvis, an 18-year-old rescue.
“Berthoud doesn’t have a wait list for pet shops,” Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Hindman said after a 6-0 vote to approve the ordinance banning the sale of pups from inhumane breeding facilities. “We can be up front and take a stand and hope this will spread to other towns and other pet shops across the state.”
Residents from across Northern Colorado gathered in the Berthoud Town Hall on Tuesday night for the vote on the ordinance, several holding rescued dogs in their laps. They applauded when the vote was made, placing Berthoud on the forefront of what they hope will be a national trend.
“I’m hoping it spreads to Loveland, Fort Collins, Omaha, Oklahoma, everywhere,” Loveland resident Lauren Kujawa said outside the meeting room after the board of trustees approved Ordinance 1267.
Rudi Taylor, who founded Harley’s Dream — a Berthoud-based organization dedicated to educating about and fighting against puppy mills and named after a rescue dog who became known worldwide — proposed the new law to the Berthoud Town Board.
Though Berthoud does not have any pet stores, it is growing and such businesses might someday move into town, Taylor explained. This ensures that, if and when they do, they will not be able to sell animals bred in inhumane circumstances, she said.
Right now, 99% of the dogs and cats sold in pet stores come from what have been described as puppy mills, Taylor told the town board.
“Pet stores don’t need to sell puppies and kittens,” Taylor said at the meeting. “They can sell pet supplies. The good breeders, and we have some good breeders here in Berthoud, don’t sell to pet stores.”
The ordinance, she said, not only allows responsible breeders, it promotes adoption of rescue pets. She pointed out how some larger pet stores have adoption events with humane societies and animal rescues and market pet supplies instead of selling puppies and kittens.

The vote on Tuesday was made routinely without public comment or much discussion by the board, passing wording that had been approved by the Humane Society of the United States. It was met with smiles, applause and hopes for continued momentum.
One other small town in Colorado, Fountain, previously approved a similar ordinance, though that board exempted the only pet store in town and has since removed it from the books, Taylor explained. Berthoud’s vote and ordinance, she clarified, is different.
“We’re unique,” Taylor said after the meeting. “This is the first ordinance of its type in the state. Berthoud leads the way. … It ensures Berthoud will remain humane. Our hope is we can have a domino effect and have more cities and towns adopt similar ordinances, and we hope for a statewide ban.”